The key factors in the rise of Louisiana's music industry are the new breed of home-grown producers, music publishers, artist representatives and of course, the artist themselves. Johnny R. Palazzotto is involved with a network of music business professionals essential to the development of Louisiana's emerging talent.

Palazzotto is a thirty-four year veteran of the regional, national and international entertainment industry, and has been instrumental in making the rest of the world aware of numerous Louisiana artists. A native of Baton Rouge, Palazzotto proved his penchant for spotting talent in 1970. At the outset of his career, Palazzotto introduced the legendary Cold Gritz and the Black-eyed Peas to Ode Record's Lou Adler (Spirit, Mama's & Papa's, Carole King, Cheech & Chong, Johnny Rivers) in Los Angeles, which resulted in a recording agreement for the band.

Since that 1970 coup, Palazzotto has been involved in many facets of the entertainment business. In 1971, he assisted Jay Senter on recording projects with Helen Reddy (I Am Woman), Spencer Davis, Bukka White, Son House, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. From 1971 to 1973, he worked on a daily basis as associate manager for Schiffman & Larson and guided clients Loggins & Messina, Poco, and Manna through performance and radio promotional campaigns. His responsibilities included coordinating all administrative duties between the groups, their record companies (CBS) and their booking agencies. He received two gold albums for his efforts with Loggins & Messina.

As professional manager of Portofino Music, he auditioned and signed new writers, made calls to producers, filed copyrights, and gained in-depth insight into the music publishing industry. During his tenure, covers were secured on such artists as: Rita Coolidge, Bobby Vinton, Skeeter Davis, Michael Nesmith, Bob Luman, Garland Frady and Lynn Anderson. Anderson's cover of Jimmy Messina's "Listen to a Country Song" went to #2 on the Billboard Country charts.

He has attended many entertainment business conventions such as SXSW, NARM and MIDEM, also participating as a judge for The American Song Festival and Louisiana Songwriters Association. He judged a young songwriter by the name of Bruce Hornsby in the American Song Festival in 1974 and Hornsby won the top award. Palazzotto's reputation of sensing an artist's potential and helping shape a viable career direction is uncanny. He represented Bobby McFerrin during McFerrin's days in New Orleans in 1979. Besides the aforementioned Cold Gritz project, Palazzotto engineered a recording agreement with ABC Records in Los Angeles for Louisiana country-writer-artist Butch Hornsby, whose album was produced by Cyril Vetter at Malaco Studios in Jackson, MS. in 1975. He secured a cover recording on the Cajun National Anthem "Laissez Les Bon Ton Rouler" written by his business associates Julie Didier and Casey Kelly. Laissez enabled Palazzotto to establish his publishing company, Ertis Music Company (ASCAP). In 1979, he engineered and negotiated a recording agreement for Ron Cuccia's Jazz Poetry Group with Takoma Records, which he also co-produced with Denny Bruce (Leo Kottke & Fabulous Thunderbirds). The Jazz Poetry album included the New Orleans classic "My Darlin' New Orleans," written by Cuccia and Charles Neville published by Ertis Music/Nevkat. In early 1980, Palazzotto secured a songwriting and publishing contract for Leigh (Lil Queenie) Harris and John Magnie (subdudes) with Almo Music Corp., the publishing affiliate of A&M Records.

During his 11 years in Los Angeles, from 1969-1980, he also secured a recording contract for Los Angeles band Blue Heaven with Epic Records. The album was produced by Jack Richardson (Guess Who, Bob Seger, Poco.) He also managed ex-Fairport Convention member Iain Matthews through two albums on Columbia in 1975-76. Palazzotto secured Nik Venet (Beach Boys, Stone Poneys, Jim Croce, Lou Rawls, Bobby Darin) for Matthews highly acclaimed Hit and Run album.

Upon his return to Louisiana in 1981, Palazzotto joined up with the Baton Rouge rock group, The Times (US) and co-produced two albums, both of which received extensive college radio air play throughout the United States and were on the cutting edge of "new music." He provided invaluable counsel for guitarist Gregg Wright, exposing Wright to Michael Jackson at a performance in Los Angeles in 1980. Wright went on to be lead guitarist on Jackson's Victory Tour. He operated Skratch Records in Baton Rouge during the years of 1982-85, releasing, marketing and distributing albums on bluesman Kenny Acosta, and new wave rockers Living Links, in addition to The Times recordings. During this period he also represented The Chimes, a restaurant-bar, which occasionally featured live entertainment, as entertainment coordinator. Palazzotto was responsible for bringing such acts as: Soul Asylum, The Georgia Satellites, Drivin' n Cryin', Jesse Winchester, Leo Kottke, Dr. John, Leon Redbone, and Willis Alan Ramsey among others. He also brought Dinosaur Jr. and The Meat Puppets to another Chimes St. bar, The Bayou. In 1985, he signed Zydeco artist Major Handy, recording and producing an album entitled "Wolf Couchon." The album was licensed to GNP/Crescendo Records from Pal Productions Co. and released in the United States. The same recording was also leased to Bedrock Records in London in 1988 and has worldwide distribution as a result of a meeting at MIDEM in Cannes, France. Two other Major Handy recordings have been released by Maison de Soul on the 101 Proof Zydeco CD and are also internationally distributed. Both were produced by Palazzotto through Pal Productions.

Johnny R. Palazzotto is a former member of the Louisiana Music Commission and served as secretary of the commission's Executive Committee during Governor Roemer's administration. He was formerly entertainment editor of Gris-Gris magazine in Baton Rouge (1987-89). He is currently operating Main St. Studios, a 24 track audio recording/Avid video editing suite. The studio is the incubator for Club Louisianne, the in-house label, which releases CD's and markets its artist recordings internationally.

Pal Productions Co. has produced concerts in Shreveport, Lafayette, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, presenting artists such as "Grammy" winners Dr. John, Buddy Guy, Eric Johnson, Gatemouth Brown, Leo Kottke, Laura Nyro, and Michael Hedges. Pal Productions Co. produces Baton Rouge Blues Week, entering its 9th year as a successful week of numerous events and performances from world renown Blues artists such as: Coco Montoya, Charles Brown, John Mayall, Buddy Guy, Philip Guy, Gatemouth Brown,  and the late greats Johnny Adams, Earl King and Luther Allison. Pal also produces a Baton Rouge Blues Week TV Special and music/video recordings at Main St. Studios. Previously he produced The Louisiana Music Show radio program.   In addition, his publishing companies Ertis Music and Rhythm Nation Music companies are affiliated with ASCAP & BMI. Pal Productions Co. also represents Record Company of the South (RCS), a division of Vetter Communications Co., Inc. The label has released recordings on Louisiana legends Irma Thomas and Luther Kent.

*   2002 Inductee to Southern University Jazz Hall of Fame for service to Louisiana Music

*   Production Coordinator for Vetter Communications production of Deacon John's Jump Blues Concert

*   Entertainment Coordinator for both inaugural balls for Govenor Mike Foster

Palazzotto continues to use his knowledge, experience and contacts to bring Louisiana's entertainment business to the rest of the world in the most capable and professional manner possible.

For references and/or information contact:

Johnny R. Palazzotto, Main St. Studios
639 Main St. Baton Rouge, LA 70801 USA
(225) 383-0968

Or send email to: Johnny@LouisianasMusic.com